In my 40+ years of training, I’ve learned one thing: the best dogs aren’t always the most talented—they’re the most prepared.
OMG, they aren’t stopping on the whistle. It’s the hardest blind you have ever done.
Imagine this...
A year from now, you step into the holding blind at the most important event of your life. Around you, dogs are falling apart—ignoring whistles, blowing past their handlers, struggling with the hardest blind they’ve ever seen.
But not you.
You take a deep breath and say to yourself: "We've got this. We’ve done our homework."
You walk to the line with confidence, your dog feeding off your leadership. The blind starts just like the others—drifting off course—but you right the ship with precision. BAM! The gallery erupts. The judge congratulates you.
As you walk off, you think: "A year ago, my dog would’ve lost control just like the rest. But because our SIT is Bombproof, we just did the impossible. Now, anything is possible."
What does it mean to be bombproof?
The Bombproof Basics Method™
The single biggest reason dogs fail to reach their full potential? A weak foundation.
"In my 40+ year career, I have come to realize that the most successful dogs aren’t necessarily the most gifted. They are the best prepared. The single biggest reason that dogs fail to achieve their full potential is an incomplete foundation. To be successful, you must put your focus on creating Bombproof Basics. I know I can help you with this mission."
A solid Basics program is a six-month investment in a 10-year career. Master it now, and you won’t spend the rest of your dog’s career training in fear.
That’s why I created Bombproof Basics—a step-by-step system designed to develop a foundation that never falters.
✔️ No more second-guessing.
✔️ No more training in fear.
✔️ No more wondering, "Can my dog handle this?"
Instead, you’ll become the trainer your dog needs—a mentor who exudes confidence and control.
In this online course, I will teach you the principles behind each step in a specific way that many trainers miss. When you understand the principles, you are no longer held hostage to the steps. You will be confident in making adjustments necessary for the individual dog. We MUST ensure your dog understands each Basics Retriever training program component. You will feel like you have been training beside me for the next six months.
What is included in the Bombproof Basics Course?
10 Training Modules | 95+ Videos (11+ Hours of Training Footage)
→ Step-by-step guidance so you always know what to do next.
25+ Hours of Recorded Q&A Sessions
→ Instantly access expert solutions to real training challenges—answers when you need them, anytime.
PDFs, Flow Charts, Diagrams & Training Setups
→ Visual guides that simplify complex drills and help you train with precision
Essential Equipment Lists
→ Know exactly what you need to set up successful training sessions
BONUS: 3 Live Virtual Classes
→ Module-by-module deep dive where we break down key lessons and answer your questions live
This isn’t just a course. It’s my 40-year career downloaded into your training.
✅ You’ll see the good, the bad, and the tough decisions that make a real difference.
✅ You’ll feel like you’ve been training beside me for six months.
✅ You’ll gain the confidence to troubleshoot any problem—whether with your current dog or the next one.
What do you say?? I’m excited to get started in 2025. I hope you will join me.
What’s inside the program?
If you were to work with me or another trainer in the field, this program would cost over five times more. But I want to reach and support more trainers all over the country. I use REAL videos of dogs going through this process to teach Bombproof Basics. It’s as close to 1:1 as you will get.
Module 1: Basic Obedience
Overview: Transitioning from “Want To” to “Have To”
In module 1 we are working towards a more precise and structured response to the basic obedience commands. We will introduce light amounts of pressure to reinforce the commands we have previously taught.
Module 2: Force Fetch
Overview: “The Foundation for The Commitment To “GO”
This is the beginning of making your dog Bombproof. There are 3 essential things that must be made bombproof during basics. They are Go, Stop & Come. This is the “Go” part. This is a very in-depth module. This is reality TV at its best.
Module 3: E-Collar Conditioning
I will cover the steps of collar conditioning. In the opening video I state, this was the module that I struggled with the most.I find that I collar condition in 2 stages. The first stage occurs prior to Force Fetch. It is an abbreviated version of collar conditioning used to mostly reinforce “Here” and “Sit”. I will then do a more formal version towards the tail end of Force Fetch. There are 4 videos in this module. The final 2 videos will more resemble a classic version of e-collar conditioning.
Module 4: Mini-T
I will show you the steps of Mini-T. Mini-T lays the groundwork for Double-T. Mini-T is where we transition from “Fetch” to “Back”. This is where we teach the over and back cast. We will do our first Force on Back. Sitting on a whistle and casting will all be covered in this module.
Module 5: Double-T
I cover Double-T from soup to nuts. This is the largest module in the entire course. There are 14 videos in the Double-T Module. I believe that this step in Basics maybe the most important of all.
Module 6: Swim-By
In the 9 videos in this module, we will cover in detail the Swim-by procedure as well as its purpose. The layout for Swim-by is just a Single-T on the water. It will then incorporate a form of discipline casting that we just learned on Double-T along with a commitment to stay in the water.
Module 7: Wagon Wheel Drills
Module 7 covers the Wagon Wheel Drills. I will cover both the Wagon Wheel Lining & the Wagon Wheel Casting Drills. These drills are designed to focus on the lining and casting mechanics that are necessary to run blind retrieves
Module 8: Pattern Blinds
Module 8 covers Pattern Blinds. I will explain the purpose of pattern blinds. I emphasize that the intention for pattern blinds is to make the transition to cold blinds smoother. I embrace opportunities to work on handling. I add some diversions with the sole purpose of creating more dilemmas that lead to some difficult handling situations
Module 9: Starting Blinds
Module 9 starts out with a discussion about starting blinds. I describe the things I like to have in place prior to starting blind retrieves.
Module 10: Cheating Singles
In the 10th and final module, I stress the importance of maintaining a healthy attitude around the water. We follow Joker while he does 9 cheating singles. I describe the themes for each set of the cheating singles beginning with cutting a corner of water and finishing with some complex re-entry factors. We initiate a few Swim-By casts when Joker tries to cheat the return. The final video demonstrates how I like to review Swim-By when Joker puts up a fight during one of the set ups.
Hi there!
I'm Pat Burns
Since 1986, I've been working closely with hundreds of retriever trainers and handlers. As former cofounder of Esprit kennels in 1986, I had was instrumental in the success of over 58 field trial champions and 27 national finalists, including the 2003 National Amateur Field Champion, “Cherokee Rose”. A large part of my career, I spent coaching and mentoring handlers. I developed a passion for connecting with people and coaching them on the nuances of the game. This ultimately led to my clients enjoying and thriving in the sport. I attribute the development of my mentoring skills to the time I spent with Rex Carr. Rex was the ultimate teacher of amateur handlers and the creator of today’s modern retriever training system.
Remember: In the department store of Life, this is the toy department!! So, let’s have fun.
Best,
Pat
14-day Risk Free Guarantee
Having been through this process for over 40 years, I’m confident that the Bombproof Basics method works! But if you’re not happy with the program, then you can take advantage of my 14-day money-back guarantee. All you have to do is reach out within 14 days of purchase, and I’ll give you your money back.
No harm. No foul.
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What type of dogs does Pat train?Pat specializes in training and mentoring retriever teams (handler & canine) for field trial competition and hunt tests. He also consulting in other sporting dog venues.
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Do you take dogs in for training?Pat doesn’t take dogs in for training. Pat’s training model is intended to teach people how to train with their own dogs. Pat does this through Bootcamps, Workshops, Day Training and Online Mentoring Programs.
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What is the difference between Bootcamps, Workshops and Day Training?"Bootcamps are an intense 5 Day Sessions. They last all day and include the maximum amount field work and attention that a day allows. Day training more resembles every day training. It typically includes 2 setups and is best used as a long-term program. Workshops are more like a seminar style event. They are usually sponsored by clubs or training groups. Workshops usually span 3-4 days.